- My Cousin Vinny is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn from a screenplay by Dale Launer. It stars Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio, Marisa Tomei, Mitchell Whitfield, Lane Smith, Bruce McGill, and Fred Gwynne in his final film appearance before his death. The film was distributed by 20th Century Fox, and released in the United States on March 13, 1992.